Improvement in fence-posts



D. K. MABIIEL Fence Post.

No. 20l, 54l. Patented March 19 1878.

Ry W N. PEI'ERS, PHO'YOYLIIHOGEAPHIH, WASHXNGTON, D. C.

UNITED STA Es PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL K. MABIE, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,541, dated March 19, 1878; application filed January 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL K. MARIE, of Marshalltown, in the county of Marshall and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form partof this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fenoe-posts and it consists in making the post of three pieces, and bracing it in position by means of pickets, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of my invention. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the same.

(0 represents the fence-posts, made of iron, and bent at rightangles, as shown. This post may be narrowest at the top and widest at the bottom, or it may be of uniform width from top to bottom. Secured to both the inner and the outer side of the lower end of this post is a strip of iron, 0, which forms a brace for supporting the post in position. Each of these pieces is bent so as to conform to the shape of the post, and then two bolts are passed through the post and the two braces, so as to secure them rigidly together. The outerportion of these braces cmay be extended outward to any desired distance, andtheir ends are bent into a circle, (1, through which the stakes c are driven into the ground, for the purpose of securing the post firmly in position.

Through one of the edges of the post a are made a number of niches, slots, or recesses, i, and just back of each slot is punched a small hole, '0, for the purpose of fastening the wires in position. Each wire of the fence is made to catch in one of the niches, and is then held in position by means of the fasteningwires or catches s, which are passed through the holes 0 and bent into the shape shown.

When a post is to be used as a corner, the body is made to extend a foot or more below the braces c, as shown at r, so as to brace and strengthen it.

In the detail views are shown the fasteningwires s, which are formed from asingle straight piece, and bent so as to form a double catch,

and thus hold the main wire from each side of the post.

Should the ground be soft, a piece of board or stone can be set under each end of the brace, so as to prevent it from cutting too deeply in the ground.

By thus making the post of a light iron and bending it at right angles, as shown, lightness and great solidity are given, and by attaching the braces to it in the manner shown, the three parts are practically formed into one, and can be transported and set up in position with no more trouble than simply to drive the stakes in the ground.

I am aware that a cast-iron post seat or chair to receive a wooden fence-post, and formed with side supports fastened in the ground, is not new, and I do not claim such as my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- As an improvement in angularly bent wrought-iron fence-posts of the form substantially as shown and described, the wroughtiron brace 0, made in two parts, fitted and bolted to the flanges of the post, and terminating at their outer ends in tubes, through which stakes may be driven into the ground, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of January, 1878.

DANIEL K. MABIE.

Witnesses:

O. L. BINTFORD, E. M. MARIE. 

